PETER VISCHER
presents the “ Miracle of the Icicles” is probably by
Peter Vischer the younger. For the modelling of
the female figures there distinctly reminds us, in
drapery and in pose of the head and body, of the
Eurydice in his “ Orpheus and Eurydice,” of the
Vita in his inkstands, and of the flute-player in the
Sebaldusgrab. And by him, also, is the “ Healing
of the Blind Man,” which is by far the finest of
the four reliefs. There is a movement in the whole
and a unity in the composition quite admirable,
whilst the cautious, tentative gait of the suddenly
blinded man, not yet accustomed to the eternal
darkness which has come upon him, is indicated
with a delicacy and sureness of touch which pro-
claim a truly great and original artist. In the
treatment of the drapery on the moving figures we
read the result of his study of the antique. It is
used to indicate and to explain the movement that
ts taking place. And very noticeable is the seizing
of the dramatic moment, which is a conspicuous
characteristic of the artist of *“ Orpheus and Eury-
dice.”
In the portrayal of the apostles on the Sebal-
dusgrab Vischer and his sons have attained the
perfect expression of the ideal after which the
father had vainly striven in the monument at
Magdeburg.
In every way the advance made by the artist
since he wrought that early masterpiece is notice-
able. The apostles here, unlike those in the
original design, and unlike, also, those on the tomb
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